Description

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In Nazi Germany, they were called the Schutzstaffeln. The world would know them as the dreaded SS—the most loyal and ruthless enforcers of the Third Reich.

It began as a small squad of political thugs. Yet by the end of 1935, the SS had taken control of all police and internal security duties in Germany—ranging from local village “gendarmes” all the way up to the secret political police and the Gestapo. Eventually, its ranks would grow to rival even Germany’s regular armed forces, the Wehrmacht.

Going beyond the myths and characterizations, Army of Evil reveals the reality of the SS as a cadre of unwavering political fanatics and power-seeking opportunists who slavishly followed an ideology that disdained traditional morality—an ideology that they were prepared to implement to the utmost murderous extreme, which ultimately resulted in the Holocaust.

This is a definitive historical narrative of the birth, legacy, and demise of one of the most feared political and military organizations ever known—and of those twisted, cruel men who were responsible for one of the most appalling crimes against humanity in history.

INCLUDES RARE PHOTOGRAPHS

About the Author

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Adrian Weale was born in London in 1964. A military intelligence officer in the British Army, he served on operations in Cold War Berlin, Northern Ireland and Central America before leaving the Army in the 1990s to work as a writer and journalist. A well-known face on Discovery and History Channel military documentaries in the US and Europe, he has published a number of books in the UK on themes relating to 20th Century history, conflict, the military and the Third Reich, as well as ghost-writing autobiographies for former special forces soldiers. In 2003, he was mobilized for military service in Iraq, where he was appointed Deputy Governor of Dhi Qar Province. In this role, he organized and supervised the first free local elections in Iraqi history in August and September 2003.

Praise For…

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“Exceptional.”—Andrew Roberts, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Storm of War

“Compelling...This is an extremely important book, which I recommend most highly.”—Michael Burleigh, Author of Moral Combat

“In this landmark history, Adrian Weale tells the twenty-year story of the SS with much brio and authority, and presents a story rich in drama and horror. This is a major achievement by a historian at the top of his game.”—Guy Walters, Literary Review (UK)

“Riveting…a chilling examination of the SS makeup, structure, and ideology.”—Kirkus Reviews